by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, sterile processing technology/technician was the 1,390 most popular major nationwide with 1,108 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 81 over the prior year, a growth of 7.3%.
Our 2023 Best Sterile Processing Technology/Technician Schools ranking analyzes 1 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for sterile processing technology/technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sterile processing technology/technician programs later in this article.
Monitoring assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to sterile processing technology/technician. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional sterile processing technology/technician certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different sterile processing technology/technician degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in sterile processing technology/technician to something that takes less time like a . Different sterile processing technology/technician degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to sterile processing technology/technician, with approximately 22.0% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to sterile processing technology/technician tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 31.6% |
| High School Diploma | 24.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 22.6% |
| Some College Courses | 14.2% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 7.6% |
See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in sterile processing technology/technician have received.
This of course varies depending on which sterile processing technology/technician career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your sterile processing technology/technician degree? Sterile Processing Technology/Technician careers are expected to grow 11.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to sterile processing technology/technician.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Technologists | 120,300 | 11.7% |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | 60,200 | 11.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for sterile processing technology/technician graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for sterile processing technology/technician graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers sterile processing technology/technician grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Surgical Technologists | $49,040 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $37,990 |
With over 91 different sterile processing technology/technician degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased sterile processing technology/technician school rankings to help you with this.
Sterile Processing Technology/Technician is one of 12 different types of Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Phlebotomy Technician/Phlebotomist | 7,599 |
| Laboratory Technician | 4,185 |
| Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology | 3,912 |
| Other Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and Allied Professions | 982 |
| Blood Bank Technology Specialist | 280 |
View All Sterile Processing Technology/Technician Related Majors >
Image Credit: By Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
